Fastening clip



June 1950 v. PEREIRA ET AL 2,510,250

FASTENING CLIP Filed May 28, 1946 INVENTORS.

\[IRGINIA 'PEREI A. LUCIEN S.BURR|.

ATTOR N EYS.

i atented June 6, 195( ()FFICE FASTENING CLIP Virginia Pereira, ForestHills, N. Y., and Lucien S. Burri, Hillsdale, N. J

Application May 28, 1946, Serial No. 672,834

3 Claims.

- This invention relates to a fastening clip or the like and moreparticularly to an ornamental clip suitable for use both as an ear clipor an apparel clip.

In ornamental clips heretofore used for attachment to the human ear suchclips were not capable of being safely used for ornamental use in otherways, such as for attaching to wearing apparel.

It is an object of this invention to provide a clip which is suitablefor use either as an ear ornament or an apparel ornament, or the likeuse, and which may be securely fastened in place in either condition ofuse.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an ornamental clip orthe like which may be attached to wearing apparel both positively and byfriction.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of theinvention with the parts shown in open position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the parts shown in closed position asexemplifying one of its uses;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of a portion of the device shown in Figs. 1 and 2showing further features of the device;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational View similar to that shown in Fig. 1 butshowing certain modifications of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of the embodiment of Fig. 4 showingfurther structural features of the modified form.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2; thedevice comprises two main parts such as the outer jaw l and the innerjaw 2 pivotally connected at 3. The inner jaw 2 is provided at one endwith a ring or loop portion forming a hole 4 through which extends twopin prongs 6 provided with an engageable portion 5 and pivotallysupported intermediate the portions 5 and 6 on the jaw 2, as at l; thepivot point being so disposed and the parts so constructed and arrangedthat the prongs 6 extend through the hole 4. A spring 8 is anchoredintermediate its oppositely disposed free ends, as at 9, to the jaw 2and one of its free ends engages a cam surface on the member 56 servingto hold the member in either open or closed position and the oppositefree end of the spring 8 engages a suitable cam surface on the outer jawI so disposed as to releasably hold the jaws l and 2 in m 2 openposition (Fig. 1) or in closed position (Fig. 2).

Recesses or identations such as Ill (Fig. 3) are provided on theinterior face of the inner jaw member 2 for receiving the prongs 8, forpur poses to be more fully explained hereinafter. The outer jaw member Iis provided at its lower end with a gripping portion ll, preferably inthe form of a button or other protuberance disposed for registeredalignment with the hole 4. The portion immediately surrounding the hole4 and the button portion ll form gripping portions of the jaws forcooperative engagement when in use to hold the clip in position eitheron the ear lobe or on wearing apparel. The clip is intended primarilyfor use as an ornament, and accordingly the exterior face of the outerjaw l is preferably of an ornamental nature or a suitable jewel orornament may be secured thereto as designated at I2.

With the jaws and the pin disposed as illustrated in Fig. 1 the edge ofa piece of fabric such as wearing apparel may be inserted between thebutton H and the points of the pin prongs 6 which may then be insertedthrough the fabric, then by moving the engageable portion 5 of the pinin a clockwise direction the prongs 6 are urged towards the jaw 2 andthe fabric, designated as F (Fig. 2), is fastened in position betweenthe prongs 6 and jaw 2 and the jaws are moved to closed position asindicated in Fig. 2 to thereby frictionally hold the fabric F betweenthe gripping portions of the jaws I and 2. As will be noted from Figs. 1and 3, the portion defined by the hole 4 and the recesses l0 provides abridge or tongue portion which cooperates with the prongs 6 tofacilitate fastening the fabric F in position. The lower end of thespring 8 serves to hold the prongs 6 toward the jaw 2, with the prongsextending in a direction toward the pivot 3 and with the engageableportion 5 disposed closely adjacent the exterior face of the jaw 2contiguous the gripping portion; and when the pin is moved to the openposition shown in Fig. 1 the spring 8 releasably holds the pin in openposition. Similarly the upper end of spring 8 releasably holds the jawsin their closed position (Fig. 2) or in open position (Fig. 1).

When the clip is to be worn as an ear clip the pin is moved to closedposition, and in such case the fabric F will be absent and the prongs 6will be seated in recesses Ill so that the pin will be in its fullyclosed position with the point of the prongs lying in such closeengagement with the jaw 2 as to obviate the danger of being accident-ially engaged in use. With the pin thus disposed along the interior ofthe jaw 2 the open jaws may be disposed on either side of the ear lobeand upon closing the jaws the gripping portions are urged against theear lobes and held in closed position by the upper end of the spring 8.

The modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is in general similar to thatabove described and comprises jaws 2] and 22 pivotally connected at 23and provided at their lower ends with gripping portions such as a button3! and the recessed portion surrounding the hole 24. In this embodimentthe pin 2525 is somewhat modified from that above shown, in theparticulars to be more fully pointed out following, and is pivotallysupported at 21 on the jaw 22; the spring 29 serving to hold the pin andthe jaws in either open or closed position as above described. In thisembodiment the prongs 26 of the pin, instead of passing through the holesuch as 24 pass through respective holes" 32 which are positioned abovethe pivot 21, and suitable recesses 30 are formed inthe'interior face ofthe j aw' 22'and extend upwardly from the holes 32: In this embodimentthe engageable portion 25 is also moved in a clockwise direction to movethe pin to closed position, at which time the prongs 26 extend in adirection toward the pivot 23 and the handle portion 25 lies closelyadjacent to the jaw 22 contiguous the gripping portion similar topositions of the comparable parts previously described with'reference toFigs. 1-3.

Having thus described our invention with particularity with reference toa presently preferred form, and having described and referred to certainmodifications, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art, afterunderstanding our invention, that various changes and othermodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of our invention, and we aim in the appended claims to cover suchchangesand modifications as are within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be se-' cured by Letters Patentis:

1. A fastening clip comprising two jaws pivotally secured together forrelative movement alternately to open or closed position, said jawsbeing provided with cooperating gripping portions adapted to engageopposite faces of an object. to which it is attached, a pin pivotallymounted on one of said jaws for movement therewithand with respectthereto to open or closed position, the pivot axis of said pin beingdisposed adjacent the exterior face of its supporting jaw intermediatethe opposite ends thereof, a spring anchored intermediate itsrespectively opposite free ends to said supporting jaw at a positionintermediate said pin and jaw axes, one free end of said spring engaginga cam surface on said pin and the other free end of said spring engaginga cam surface on said other jaw member, said parts being so constructedand arranged that said spring releasably holds said pin alternately inopen or closed position and alternately holds said jaws in open orclosed position.

2. In a combined ear and apparelclip the combination of inner and outerjaws pivotally secured together at corresponding ends for relativemovement alternately to an open or closed position, said jaws beingprovided with cooperating gripping portions, a pin pivotally secured tosaid inner jawandprovided with two spaced apart prongs extendingtherethrough adjacent said gripping portion in a direction toward saidouter jaw, said pin having an engageable portion extending from itspivot axis in a direction opposite to said prongs and disposed exteriorof its jaw; said pin and its supporting'jawbeing so constructed andarranged that: when saidpirr'isrin closed position said" prongsaretdisposed' closely adjacent the interior face of said jaw withtheprongs directed toward: the jaw pivot and the engageable portion" ofsaid pin liesadjacentthe-exterior of said. jaw contiguous saidgrippingxpor tion.

3. In a combined ear and apparel clip the com.- bination of inner and.outer? jaw'members pivotally secured together at correspondingendsi forrelative movement: to an-open or closed position; said inner; jaw havingan opening providing a recessed portion and said outerjaw'havinga protuberance disposed for cooperative alignment with said recessed portion,a. pin pivotally securedto said inner jawandprovided with two spacedapart prongs extending through. said opening'in a direction towardsa-idouter jaw; said pin having'an 'engageable-portion extending; from itspivot axis in adirection opposite to saidprongs and disposed exteriorlyof its supporting body, saidinner jaw having recesses in its interiorface for receiving respective of said prongs when in. closed position,and common spring means for yieldably holding said jaws and saidpin-ineither open orclosed position.

VIRGINIA PEREIRA; LUCIEN S. BURRI.

REFERENCES CITED Number

